Diamond Princess has arrived in Singapore from Japan to join Sapphire Princess for a homeporting season that will last until March 2019. This is the first time that Princess Cruises has based two ships in Singapore. Sapphire Princess had arrived earlier on 28 November.

Sapphire Princess, sister ship to Diamond Princess, is homeporting in Singapore for her fifth season and will sail to Southeast Asian destinations on 3-to 13-day voyages. During this time, she will also embark on a Grand Asia voyage return trip from Singapore to Shanghai over the Christmas and New Year period. Sapphire Princess will then continue sailing in the region after which she will sail to Europe for the summer season.

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Diamond Princess will offer Christmas and New Year sailings from Singapore to Southeast Asian destinations, such as Kota Kinabalu, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok and Ko Samui. The New Year itinerary offers a sailing from Singapore to Bali, Port Klang, Penang (late night) and Phuket.

“A cruise provides the ideal setting to connect with loved ones and celebrate the festive season together. With two ships homeporting in Singapore for the first time, we’re offering guests an expansive schedule of sailings to experience some of the most incredible destinations in the region, while celebrating in style on the high seas,” said Farriek Tawfik, Director Southeast Asia, Princess Cruises.

Sapphire Princess will return to Singapore for her sixth homeporting season next year which will include a unique cruise to see the Annular Solar Eclipse from the Straits of Malacca on 26 December 2019. The cruise to experience this natural wonder when the moon covers the sun’s center, leaving the Sun’s visible outer edges to form a “ring of fire”, departs on 17 December 2019.

Diamond Princess will undergo a dry dock in Singapore before she returns to Japan in February, 2019 for her sixth season, sailing roundtrip from Tokyo (Yokohama) and Kobe. The March-November 2019 season features 60 departures on 40 unique itineraries, visiting 41 destinations in seven countries, more ports than ever before. Offerings include access to 11 UNESCO World Heritage sites and nine late night ports of calls.